A Memorable 3-Day Adventure: Exploring Niagara Falls, Toronto, and Beyond

Day 1: Journey to Niagara Falls

The journey to Niagara Falls is as captivating as the destination itself, offering travellers a scenic route adorned with picturesque landscapes. Departing from Toronto, visitors can expect to be greeted by verdant fields, charming rural communities, and sparkling lakes that embody the beauty of Ontario. As the distance closes, the anticipation of witnessing one of the natural wonders of the world builds, enriching the road trip experience. Or so the guidebooks say - what we had was traffic, traffic and more traffic. On route we passed 3 car accidents with lots of hold up, not the best start.

The guide was also interesting. He would not shut up. Constant chat. I think because we hit hold ups he felt he needed to fill in with mindless trivia, plus he kept repeating himself.

The falls were amazing. We arrived and first stop the Maid of the Mist boat ride. Despite the rain macs making you look like a human condom the trip was awesome, you get very wet but up close and personal with the falls, When we got on a lady was by the rail and blocking people from standing by her as "her husband is coming". He never did show up so wonder if she even had a husband.....

A worthy pit stop on this adventure is Niagara on the Lake. A quintessential town about 30 mins from the falls. Such a delightful place to wander around, browsing in the shops, checking out the shore and generally coming away with house envy. Everywhere gearing up for Halloween so lots of decorations to see. There was a Christmas shop as well but we decided a bauble was unlikely to make home with us

Our last stop of the day was at one of Niagara's celebrated wineries for some free tasting. Some interesting information on ice wine which Id not heard off. This is only produced in 3 places in the world (this being 1) and apparently it may be a dying wine production due to global warming.

We were tempted enough to buy a bottle and we picked up a wine called Tom Thomson. At the till the lady explained the story behind the name: Tom Thomson, a significant figure in Canadian art history, is intimately linked to the stunning scenery of Niagara Falls and its surroundings.

Day 2: Exploring Toronto’s Heart

Matthew took himself off for the morning to the art gallery of Ontario and I caught up with paperwork/family etc. The gallery was brilliant although in 2 hours I only saw a small amount. Lots of Canadian and Indigenous artists. Quite a few Tom Thomson paintings which tied in nicely with the wine. The gallery does an annual pass for only $10 more than a daily one and if we were here longer I would definitely return.

Our joint adventure on the second day began at the notable Union Station, a hub of activity and history in downtown Toronto. Not a planned stop but we needed a detour here. On the 6th we are taking a train from Halifax to Quebec and we bought standard seats - as this train is from 11:00 overnight to 7.30 the next day we wanted to upgrade to a cabin so we could lay flat and sleep.

Who knew this would be so difficult. No joy online. No joy on the phone as the line kept clicking off. No joy on the online chat so off to the station we went. No joy at the counter as she couldn't help, it had to be the central team on the phone. The station is a lovely building though and we will be here again for a trip.

After making the decision to give it up we ventured into the Distillery District, a charming neighbourhood teeming with historic Victorian-era buildings. The area, revamped from a functioning whisky distillery to a vibrant cultural space, is rife with art galleries, boutiques, and eateries. Walking through the cobbled streets, we were drawn to various shops showcasing local artisans, highlighting the district's artisan culture. This unique blend of history and modernity creates an inviting atmosphere that beckons both tourists and locals.

During our exploration, we indulged in traditional poutine, a quintessential Canadian dish. Its comforting (and filling) combination of fries, cheese curds, and gravy exemplified the local cuisine perfectly. Matthew opted for pulled pork on top as well. Our daughter Eleanor had made this for us previously at home and we both agreed, her version was nicer. Not sure if it was the Bistro gravy that gave it the edge. To accompany the food we sampled beer flights. When there are so many nice ones to go for the only option is to have several.

Day 3: A Day at the Islands

On the final day of our adventure, we set out to explore Centre Island, a serene retreat just a short water taxi ride from downtown Toronto. One of the tips from the day 1 driver was about this hop over to the island - the water taxis are $13.50 pp one way and are speedy boats that zip across as soon as your on it/the ferry is $9.50 pp return and goes regular but at set times. For $4 extra the taxi is nicer/quicker etc.....what you have to know is that the ferry doesn't check tickets on the return journey, you just hop on and get back for free.

Once on Centre Island, we were eager to explore the extensive pathways that wind through picturesque parklands. We decided to hire bikes and I talked Matthew into a tandem bikes, which provided an engaging and fun way to navigate the lush landscapes and scenic spots. Riding together allowed us to share the experience, and we relished in the light-hearted challenge of synchronizing our pedalling (he did alot of the work!). The islands are gorgeous. So quiet and peaceful away from the noise of the city. The beaches are lovely aswell so I picked my spot while Matt did some more walking.

As the day drew to a close, we took the ferry back to the mainland (free gratis), marking a pleasant end to our time on the islands. Our next destination was the Distillery District again for booze and food.

Summary and Travel Tips

We leave Toronto tomorrow (or Trono as the locals say it, or so the guide on day 1 of this little segment told us 20 times at least) so to sum up Toronto is a city filled with stunning natural beauty, vibrant city life, and rich cultural experiences. The highlights of the trip were the awe-inspiring sight of Niagara Falls, where the crashing waters create a mesmerizing display. We've had 5 days here which we thought we would struggle to fill - absolutely not. We have loved every minute and only scratched the top layer.